A nurse teaches a nursing student about pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of sleep problems among older adults. Which of the following statements by the student shows understanding of the care of those with sleep disturbances?
A) "Behavioral therapies are preferable to the use of drugs."
B) "Benzodiazepines are the drug group likely to have the fewest adverse effects."
C) "L-Tryptophan and melatonin are chemicals the body produces that can be supplemented to improve sleep."
D) "Older adults should not use hypnotics or other pharmacologic aids for sleep."
Ans: A
In general, behavioral therapies are preferable to hypnotics and other drugs for the treatment of sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines are the drug category with the greatest risk of adverse effect, and L-tryptophan is found in foods rather than produced by the body. Even though there are risks, there is still a role for pharmacologic interventions in the short-term treatment of sleep problems and they should not be categorically discounted.
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